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Walk a Mile in my Shoes
Children of Heaven + Operation Gratitude
Children of Heaven is a heartbreaking tale that offers a child's-eye-view on growing up in a poor Iranian neighborhood. A young boy named Ali has lost his sister Zarah's only pair of shoes, and the children must run back and forth to school, handing off the single pair of soles so the other can make it to class. The siblings can't tell their parents or their teachers that the shoes are gone, and their secrecy creates a bond that our kids related to, instantly. While munching on yummy Persian take-out, our kids were amazed at how different life is for Zarah and Ali. The child actors mesmerized us all and we found ourselves rooting for Ali when he enters a road race in order to win a new pair of shoes. All that running paid off for our little hero.
Operation Gratitude was started by a mom from Encino who was inspired by the events of 9/11. Carolyn Blashek wondered how young Americans abroad could face the unimaginable horrors of combat, and knew instinctively (as any mother does) that the soldiers had to feel that someone at home cared about them. Six years later, what began at a kitchen table is now a bustling national effort: Operation Gratitude will send 120,000 packages designed to lift morale this year, and it's all done through donations and the efforts of volunteers. Memorial Day kicked off the non-profit's Fourth Annual Patriotic Drive, whose goal is for 50,000 care packages to reach deployed troops by July 4th; we'll be packing the boxes at the California Army National Guard Armory in Van Nuys this month. Working together for something larger than yourself is truly a gratifying operation!
Directed By: Majid Majidi
1999, Rated PG, 89 minutes
Our Buttery Bits of Wisdom about this film:
- Why It's Worth it: Roger Ebert called Children of Heaven "a very nearly perfect children's film", and we absolutely agree. It's timeless tale is told with very little dialogue, so even young children can, with a little parental translation, understand how the story is unfolding.
- Red Flags: The film is fine for any age child, as long as they can read subtitles or if an older person can translate the few lines of dialogue.
- Cool Fact: Children of Heaven is the first Iranian film to be nominated for an Academy Award. It lost out in the Best Foreign Language Film category to Life Is Beautiful.
Our Tips for talking with your kids about this film:
- Cinema Savvy: The choice to tell a story from a child's point of view is key in this film. Ask the kids how the film would be different if it were told from, for instance, their mother's point of view. This film reminded us of another simple tale, told from a child's point of view - The Red Balloon. Click here for more on this classic tale, that is great for all ages.
- International Savvy: We like to compare the daily ways of life between different cultures. Ask your kids what items or events remind them of life in the US, and what details convinced them that Ali lived in a very different culture. Our kids noted the handwriting as a similarity (although the letters were new to their eyes) and the sewers running down the center of the street (yes, that's what that was) as a startling difference.
Operation Gratitude
Packing Days at California Army National Guard Armory
When: June 16 and 17, June 30 and July 1
Where: 17300 Victory Boulevard (corner of Victory and Louise)
Van Nuys, CA 91406
Contact: www.opgratitude.com
Age Recommendation: 12 and up (Younger Kids can donate items, or raise money)
Time Requirement: Four Hours
Our Buttery Bits of Wisdom about this Popcorn Adventure:
- What Worked for Us: Kids must be 12 or older to help pack at an assembly point. We let our older kids bring friends, and let our younger kids gather items that are on the Operation Gratitude website. Reserve a spot ahead, and be sure to eat a meal before your shift, as neither food nor water is allowed in the National Guard Armory.
- Before You Go: E-mail pennyalfonso@yahoo.com to register for an assembly weekend; be sure to put OPERATION GRATITUDE in your subject line.
- How Younger Kids Can Help: There is plenty that younger kids can do to help. Identifying items that the organization needs is simple by reading the WISHLIST on its website; kids can rally friends, school and camp mates, and relatives to donate items. Items sent after July will go into the Christmas mailing.
- Money always works: When the cost of a stamp went up last month, it increased the organization's operating costs tremendously. Consider sending a donation of cash to help cover shipping fees.
- YouTube Link: Click here to learn more about Carolyn Blashek and Operation Gratitude.
- Great Persian Cuisine is abundantly available in Los Angeles and is very kid-friendly. Here are a few of our favorite spots: Javan (310-207-5555), Darya (310-442-9000) and Shahrzad (310-472-3242). Kids love kabobs and rice, both of which come in many incarnations -- chicken or lamb or beef kabobs and rice with savory and sweet additions, such as beans or orange peel. Don't expect a fancy dessert - Persian cuisine favors fruit after a meal.
National financial experts Eileen Gallo, Ph.D and Jon Gallo, J.D., contributors to this week's Popcorn Adventure, are the co-authors of The Financially Intelligent Parent: 8 Steps to Raising Successful, Generous, Responsible Children (2005). Click here to visit their website. Here's their advice about volunteering with kids.
- Volunteering can serve as a rite of passage for young people, helping them grow into mature, responsible adults. Families that volunteer together help children develop positive qualities that they might not otherwise possess - generosity, an appreciation for what they have, a realistic perspective about haves and have nots, kindness and empathy. There are several websites that will help you find volunteer opportunities for you and your family. Here are our two favorites:
- VolunteerMatch.com has matched close to three million people with volunteer activities offered by more than 45,000 organizations. You begin the Volunteer Match experience by inputting your zip code, the distance you're willing to travel and your interest area (which range from animals to children to religion).
- SERVE.net.org is a program of Youth Service America and is notable for offering young people volunteer experiences - it's geared for people between the ages of 5 and 25.
